What will happen if I'm behind on paying for the trip?

[UndertheCedartree]

Really worrying about this. I have spoken to school about it but not been given a response. So just wanted to see what is usual procedure.

In December I signed my DD up for the Y6 residential trip. In January we found out the cost - £350 😮 A payment plan was set up for those who couldn't afford to pay it outright. £50 in Jan, £100 in Feb, £100 in March, £50 in April and £50 in May. Trip is end of June.

I'm on a low income and I'm struggling with the payments. I've paid the £50 for Jan and I've saved up £30 so far for the February payment.

Will my DD not be allowed to go if I haven't paid it all by May or even June? It would crush her. I wouldn't not pay but I wish it could have been spread out longer to pay. £100 out of a month's budget is so much! It's my DC's birthdays in March and April and I had a large unexpected expense in January too 😥

I’m honestly shocked they’re charging full whack for a FSM student. I teach at a college and no way would a FSM have to pay full price for an expensive trip like that. Maybe it can’t come from PP (sounds fishy) but there must be some other option.

Is it worth looking into changing banks etc to see if they have any deals to get money that way? Good luck!

Discuss with the school. They may have a fund for this purpose. At all my kids' schools they would always say - if you can't afford a trip come and discuss with us in confidence. They don't want kids to miss out.

It’s up to the school how they use their PP and with school budgets as stretched as they are at the moment, that money is probably needed more in the classroom that it is to subsidise trips. That said, they still might be able to help when you get to talk to them. They might be able to stretch the payment plan out longer to help you, but they might not because they have to pay the balance of the trip before it happens.

No one on here can accurately tell you what will happen if you can’t pay the rest of the money because that is entirely up to the school. They should help you as much as they possibly can but if you can’t find a way to pay for your child to go, then they are still obliged to provide her with an education while the trip is happening.

Does your DC have any savings, gifts from family etc at Christmas and birthdays? You can spend her money on things that would benefit her and this would count you could even put the money back at a later date if you like.

Op please be open with thr school. It is a huge amount and personally I think its totally and utterly wrong that any child should be left out of something that is a communal and important experience like thia. The kids will be talking about it for weeks.

I know at our school they would do their besr to ensure no child was left out.

That payment plan does not sound easy the first step is tell them you cant afford it and can they step in. Make sure you get face to face with teacher and head if needed.

I always find these types of replies bizarre. On a thread where people have given lots of helpful advice - someone comes on to inform the OP that noone will be able to give them advice contrary to the evidence!

If you're not able to give advice, fine. But please don't try and police what I can ask for advice with . As I have said I have contacted school.

Talk to your child’s school about this. Every school I have worked in has had a fund to help pay for educational visits for parents on a low income.

But they always say they can't give a price until they know how many are coming!!

That's so kind, thank you.

I take it you've emailed them and not had a response? If that's the case, try not to worry, they are probably looking at working something out. Give them a call or grab a teacher on Monday

I manage pupil premium at my school and it absolutely doesn't have to be used solely for academic purposes. You can find all the info on the pupil premium government website. I would definitely be taking this up with the school.

Dd didn't go on the residential trip but if she did go the school was going to pay because she got free school meals.

Thank you, that's reassuring.

OP I work in school finance. PP funding is there to improve educational outcomes for those in receipt. Senior leadership can decide how this funding will be spent. Further info here - www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium/pupil-premium

In our letters that go out regarding trips we ask anyone anticipating difficulty in paying to write to the Head in confidence. We do have a school hardship fund that can help in these circumstances, if you haven't received a reply call or email them again. Communication with your school is really important. Obviously at the moment school budgets are stretched beyond imagination and reserves will be dwindling if a school is lucky enough to have them but I do have huge sympathy and I'm sure the school will try to help you in any way they can.

Thank you, I have spoken to them and will chase up.

Really? This is what school told me. My DD gets keyboard lessons subsidised by PP, but the new form removed the bit about PP. I was told that luckily she would still get it but any new DC wouldn't as they now had to use PP for academics (which they weren't happy about) and as I say PP hasn't paid for any school trips since last year.

Ah, right, that makes sense. Yes, I pay over 12 months.

Yes, that would be much more manageable.

I hope so.

You can ask them to spread out the payments but if they won’t then of course they won’t let her go.

She only has a Junior ISA that can't be accessed til she is 18. But I am going to ask my parents if they will pay something towards the trip instead of getting her a birthday present. That would hopefully mean I'll only have to find another £20 or £30 for this month's payment.

DD missed out on her yr 6 trip cause of COVID, but I remember at the time that DH paid for an extra couple of places (he was feeling flush at the time 🙄) to go into a pot for for those who were struggling. It all ended up coming back to us obviously but you may well find that there is a fund for helping.

Set up something to raise funds. It could be a sponsored walk/run, bake sale, craft sale...whatever you think you could organise for as little money as possible.

Even sell old clothes on Vinted, Facebook and eBay.

It can be done but takes a bit of effort.

For a trip my daughter had a few years ago I made little bracelets for around 30p each and sold them to family and on Facebook for £1.50 each. It soon adds up.